Week 4 - September 29, 2017

Friday, September 29, 2017

Curriculum


Reading
Students have had the opportunity to do Daily 5 for a few days now.  We will continue to have our Daily 5 stations so that students keep learning how to be independent learners.  They are learning to read to self, listen to reading, practice writing, learn words (we're focusing on learning words with the short a sound right now), and read with the teacher.

Book Baggies:
Students have 6 books in their bag (two below their reading level to help them work on fluency, two at their level to focus on good reading skills, and two above level to continue to push and grow as readers).  These bags will stay at home all week for students to practice reading.  It is good to encourage reading and rereading of these books!  We will exchange books on Fridays, so please have students return these books next Friday.  (Just FYI, Library books are sent in on Thursday.)  If a student forgets or is absent one week, they will need to return them the following Friday.  If anyone is available to help with exchanging book baggies on Fridays at about 3:15, I'd love some help!

Writing
The last two weeks the students have been writing concept books.  We learned to make a plan, edit/revise, and publish our writing.  Students learned that we are never DONE with our writing.  We can always practice or continue improving as writers.  Next week, we will begin our personal narrative writing unit.  Talk to your child about a small moment they might write about (For example, not an entire day at the aquarium, but when they saw the dolphin show.  Or a time they learned to ride a bike, or the best ride at the carnival.  Something memorable.)

Math
This week wrapped up Unit 2 by exploring different addition and subtraction strategies.  Students learned that they can solve number stories using pictures, ten frames, tally marks, number lines, or their fingers.  They also learned to write equations (number models) and label their answers. Next week, we will begin Unit 2.  This unit focuses on many of the same skills as Unit 1.  The major differences are for the students to learn combinations of 10 and how to use change-to-more or change-to-less diagrams for solving addition and subtraction problems.

Unit 2 Skills
o I can use the turn around rule (add numbers in any order to get the same answer).
o I can use the change-to-more or change-to-less diagrams to solve number stories.
o I can add and subtract within 10 using combinations of 10.
o I can answer simple questions about a tally chart.
o I can count and represent a number of objects within 20 using a written numeral.

Unit 2 Study Guide - You may use this to guide you in helping your child study for this Unit 2 Assessment.

Unit 2 IXL Skills - If you would like to, students may use IXL to help them practice these skills.

Social Studies
As a class we have been learning what it means to be a good citizen.  Students came up with questions on what citizens are and what citizens do.  We are taking those questions and creating a class book to answer those questions.  We are hoping to eventually get this book onto Seesaw.

Purposeful Play
Students are really enjoying the opportunity to be creative and use their imagination.  I enjoy seeing the problem solving and collaboration that happens. Ask your child what he or she created!

Please see the Purposeful Play tab on the blog to learn more about our weekly Play Time and donation items we could use for it!

Homework
I sent home password pages last week with the students along with some directions on how to access some different online resources.  These are not mandatory to use.  They are ideas for different places to go in order to help your child learn and grow in both reading and math.
  • Read every night
  • Work on a math skill (i.e. adding and subtracting to 20 - play a board game for this, telling time, counting coins, measuring - length and volume -  have your child cook with you to practice this, talk about shapes - 2D and 3D - find items around your house, etc.) 
  • October Homework - This is all "Play based" to encourage the students build fine/gross motor skills, creativity and imaginative skills.

Important Dates

October 4: Picture Day
October 4: Count Day
October 5: Walk to School Day 
October 5: Fun Run Kickoff

No comments